Violet

Violet Leone

I Will Survive

Every night after I get the girls to bed I think to myself that I need to update the blog. But the need for sleep always seems to outweigh my desire to blog. ;) I have been living on 2-3 hours of sleep for the past few weeks so I'm sure you can understand.

I think I turned a corner today and I actually feel like I might be able to take care of a preschooler, toddler and newborn by myself right now. Travis will be home soon to help!

I actually got 4 1/2 hours of sleep last night (woo hoo!) can finally breastfeed without wanting to cry (I won't elaborate on that--I don't want to traumatize any acquaintances who read this blog) and managed to successfully get Madeline ready for preschool this morning without having to call poison control (let's just say Thursday morning was a BAD BAD morning).

Am I making any sense? No? Well, that's what you get from a sleep-deprived mama of three.

Highlights of the past three weeks with a new baby:
* Violet is sweet. And adorable. And sweet. Did I mention that?

* Madeline and Zella ADORE her and want to hug and kiss her all the time. They are both great with her.

* Travis was her for her birth!!!! We are so thankful for that. If she is crying really bad I call Trav and he talks to her over the phone. She calms down immediately! Such a papa's girl already.

* Travis had a couple days off work when I got home from the hospital. He was such a great help!

* My mom took off work and helped us out after Travis went back to work. I literally don't know what I would have done without her! The girls loved having Granny here and I thanked God for her 100 times a day.

* Aunt Karen and Gracie also saved the day many times for us the past few weeks. They always seem to know when we need company or when I need a break! We have had a lot of fun and it is fun to see how much Gracie loves Violet.

* Madeline and Zella call Violet Biolet because they can't say their V's yet. Too cute.

* Violet loves to snuggle and smiles a lot.

Lows from the past three weeks with a new baby:
* Travis had to leave for training in Portland again. Madeline literally begged him to stay and so it was very hard on him.

*Madeline has been mad at him for leaving and has really been acting out. She bit (!) Zella on the back and left a huge bruise. She has never done that before so I was shocked. She has also had a really rude attitude towards me but I know it will pass.

*Zella is also adjusting to a new baby AND papa being gone. She has been hitting and generally disobeying. Zella is the reason I had to call poison control last week. She either ate acne cream or put it up her nose. Luckily everything was okay. She just needs some extra attention. This too shall pass, right? RIGHT?

* Violet is a very good baby in general, but usually cries for a couple hours in the middle of the night.

*Zella has been waking up at 4 or 5 am every day. Usually right after I get Violet to quit crying and finally have a chance for myself to go to sleep. Hence the 2-3 hour of sleep average.

Travis comes home on Saturday for 1 week. Then back to Oregon for a week. And then he is done!!! He "graduates" from training on March 27th. It's hard to believe we are almost done with the 12 weeks of training. We can't wait for him to be home! He has been very homesick and we have been missing him so much. We are just not meant to be apart!

Hopefully this posts makes some sense. I am going to posts pics of Violet as soon as I can. (Although she just woke up crying so who knows.)

Thanks for all the well wishes!
With love,
Lori

It's A Girl!

Violet Leone Clendenen
Born Feb. 14th, 2009
9:53 p.m.
9 lbs., 2 oz.
21 1/2 "

Travis was here for the birth! Everyone is home and doing well.

More pictures to come...

Anticipation

I just heard from Travis and he has landed in Minneapolis! Woo hoo! He'll be in a few hours and I can't wait. I can't believe I didn't have the baby while he was gone. Seriously, folks, you should see me. I feel like I can hardly move. I am 40 weeks today (my due date). The baby has dropped and is apparently a VERY good listener/direction follower because she did indeed wait for her Papa to get home!

If I don't have her before Tuesday I will be induced. So we have a four day wait at the most. Can't wait!

More later,
Lori

Waiting for Papa

I am 39 weeks, 5 days pregnant and still no baby. There was a false alarm yesterday and I went to the hospital. The doctor and nurse told me they don't remember ever having a woman as far along as I am want to leave the hospital without a baby. They would have kept me if I wanted and induced me, but the baby and I are bound and determined to wait for Papa to get home. Travis is coming home a day and a half early and will be here Friday afternoon. (My due date) !!!!! I am hoping and praying he can be here for the birth. If not, at least it won't be long before he meets her.

Training is going well for Trav. He is learning a lot and making the most of the down time he has. He has even begun drawing again and painting some (watercolors for now) which is awesome. He hasn't had much time for that the last couple years! In a couple days he will be halfway through the program. Woo hoo! His "graduation" date is March 27th so the end is in sight.

My family and friends have been taking great care of us in his absence. I do not know what I would do without my parents and my sister here. I can't thank them enough for all their help!

I had a doctor appt. on Monday and the baby has dropped since them. I'm dilated to four (again, too much info?) and have been up at night with contractions. The girls are getting excited and loving all the cuddle time we've had reading books on the couch. I am really slowing down physically...it is just getting harder to do normal things with this giant belly in the way. ;)

We are excited to meet the baby and can't wait for her to join our family. Now if only Travis would get home so I can have this kid!

Thanks again for all of your prayers and support.

Baby Watch

I'm 38 weeks, 4 days and still no baby. Since she didn't arrive before Travis left on Saturday, I'm hoping she will wait to make her debut on Valentine's Day when he gets home! It's just a waiting game now. ;)

Travis is back in Portland for training. It was easier in some ways to say goodbye again (we know we will see him in two weeks) and harder (Madeline literally begged him to stay, I'll probably have the baby while he's gone) in others. At least we know what to expect this time.

He will come home Valentine's Day for a four day break. The training will be halfway done. Woo hoo!!!

He is more than likely going to do his second site training in Ventura. That means after the break he will stay here and work in Ventura for a week. Then back to Portland. It is so much easier to handle being apart for two weeks at a time than six weeks!

I had another doctor appointment yesterday. My doc said he would induce me today, but I want to have the baby closer to when T gets home. I am definitely slowing down and having to rest more. My last preggo pic was 33 weeks so I thought you might like to see how big I am now at 38 weeks. I've only gained 17 pounds but am still huge. ;)

Thanks again for all of your prayers.
More later,

Christmas Recap

Um, I do know Christmas was over a month ago, but I still wanted to post some pictures. With my computer being broken and Travis leaving for Oregon we had a pretty busy December!

Scroll down if you want to see more recent posts and bear with me as I play catch up on the blog!

We spent Christmas at home in Britt this year. Usually Christmas Eve is a very busy day for Travis at work, but since he had put in his two week notice, he worked "regular hours" and came home early in the afternoon. It was great to have him home and so relaxed. First we made snowman cookies for Santa. Then we opened presents late afternoon which was fun. Travis made the girls a Barbie house...that is what they had both been asking for for months. The look on their face (and Trav's!) was priceless. They have played non-stop with it since.

On Christmas Eve we went to church with my sister Karen, her husband Chris (aka Minnesota) and my niece Grace. They were in town too and came over after the Christmas Eve service to our house. We ate and opened a couple presents. The girls were pretty excited and it was fun to see them together.

They could hardly wait to get to bed so Santa could come!

On Christmas morning it was just us and the girls couldn't believe Santa ate the cookies they set out. Madeline decided it was because she was such a good cookie baker. We opened stockings and Santa gifts and they were in awe. It is so fun to watch kids open presents.

My parents had gone to my twin sis Lisa's house but came back in time for lunch on Christmas Day. We all ate fondue at mom and dad's house. It was very fun and relaxing.

We had an early Christmas with Trav's family, and celebrated with my family a couple weeks before so it was pretty laid back which was nice.

I hope you all had a great holiday season!